FIRMS across Coventry and Warwickshire will be given additional help to expand and attract inward investment thanks to a new deal.

The Local Enterprise Partnership’s Planning Business Group – which is one of eight established by the organisation – has drawn up an agreed common protocol with the six planning authorities across the area.

This takes the form of a “contract of commitment” which spells out what the planning authorities will commit to do for developers and investors to ensure their plans are dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible and, in order to play their part, what the developers and investors will commit to do in return.

The group, which is made up of public and private sector professionals, is also working on an on-line interactive planning map which will show where in Coventry and Warwickshire development and investment would be welcomed.

Anna Rose, head of planning and culture at Rugby Borough Council, who heads the LEP group, said the common approach would make life far easier for firms looking to expand or for investors considering Coventry and Warwickshire as a location.

“The LEP’s sole aim is to break down the barriers to growth and to help to create jobs to boost the economy,” she said.

“Planning is often seen as a barrier to growth and as a group we realised that there were things across the area which we could do to make the whole process easier and quicker.

“There should be a commonality wherever an application is made in Coventry and Warwickshire.

“That has required all the relevant authorities to sign up to changes and commitments, which they have all done.

“These involve factors which will make the process easier but also, and equally importantly, ensure greater co-ordination between all the planning authorities.

“At same time, the planning professionals on the group know from experience that there are often common shortcomings in planning applications so we have issued some pointers so that developers have everything in place which would allow planning authorities to work at maximum efficiency.

“The group has worked very hard on this for more than a year and it is a considerable step forward.”

The local planning authorities have committed to 14 steps including prioritising applications which bring jobs or investment, continuity of staff on applications, a pre-application service which would be free or charged only at official application point and for all heads of planning to meet quarterly.

Developers are urged to discuss proposals early, to fully understand key policies in the relevant areas and to be provided with a single point of contact.

Ms Rose added: “The group is pushing ahead with some other work we see as key to helping grow the local economy through improving planning.

“We believe the interactive map setting out the various key sites and planning frameworks will be very useful to potential investors whether new to the area or not.

“We also want to look at the work and scope of the bodies that have to be consulted on applications, sometimes seen to be significant barriers to development and growth, to see if we can make that system more efficient.”